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New Jersey Institute of Technology
College of Science and Liberal Arts
Department of Physics
The Earth in Space
Phys 203
Fall 2004
Kupfrian Hall, Room 107
First Examination (sample)
Name: ___________________________________ Student ID: _______________
01.) An atom that loses or gains electrons is called a(n)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
isotope.
proton.
neutrino.
neutron.
ion.
02.) The atomic number of an atom is eight. This means that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
the sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons in the atom is eight.
the sum of neutrons and electrons in the atom is eight.
the number of neutrons in the atom is eight.
the number of protons in the atom is eight.
the atom is eight times heavier than an atom of hydrogen (one proton and one electron).
03.) What is the net electric charge of an atom that has six protons and six neutrons in the nucleus and five
electrons moving about the nucleus?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
–2
–1
0
+1
+2
04.) If the atomic number of an element is 6 and its atomic mass is 14, how many neutrons are contained in
the nucleus?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
6
20
0
8
84
05.) The central region of an atom is called the
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
proton.
electron.
neutron.
nucleus.
shell.
06.) Orbiting the central region of an atom are negatively charged
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
protons.
electrons.
neutrons.
nuclei.
07.) The atomic mass of an atom is obtained by totaling the number of
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
electrons and protons.
electrons and neutrons.
protons and neutrons.
neutrons and positrons.
positrons and neutrinos.
08.) The name of an element or atom is defined by the number of
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
protons.
electrons.
neutrons.
nuclei.
isotopes.
09.) Isotopes of the same elements differ in the number of
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
protons.
electrons.
neutrons.
nuclei.
ions.
10.) As the rate of cooling increases (speeds up), the size of the crystals that form
(a) increases.
(b) decreases.
(c) is not affected.
11.) This igneous texture is characterized by two distinctively different crystal sizes.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
aphanitic
glassy
porphyritic
phaneritic
pyroclastic
12.) How does a glassy texture of an igneous rock form?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
when lava cools very slowly
when lava cools very rapidly (quenching)
when slow cooling of lava is suddenly interrupted
when a large amount of impurities pollutes slowly cooling lava
when lava has practically no dissolved gas
13.) The process of metamorphism involves
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
formation of rock from magma.
transformation of pre-existing rock.
decomposition of pre-existing rock.
mass movement of rock material.
only Precambrian rocks.
14.) Metamorphism may result from
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
heat.
pressure.
chemical change.
all of the above
15.) All silicate minerals contain the elements
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
silicon and iron.
silicon and magnesium.
silicon and calcium.
silicon and sodium.
silicon and oxygen.
16.) Pangaea is
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
another name given the Alaskan earthquake of 1964.
a portion of the mid-Atlantic ridge.
a German word for “plate tectonics.”
a name of a fossil found in both Africa and South America that led scientists to believe these
continents were once connected.
(e) the name of a supercontinent.
17.) Tectonic plates move apart, leaving a gap at
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
divergent plate boundaries.
convergent plate boundaries.
transform fault boundaries.
all of the above
none of the above
18.) Tectonic plates move toward one another at
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
divergent plate boundaries.
convergent plate boundaries.
transform fault boundaries.
all of the above
none of the above
19.) Convergent boundaries are zones where tectonic plates
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
slide past each other.
move toward one another.
move away from one another.
all of the above
none of the above
20.) Divergent boundaries are zones where tectonic plates
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
slide past each other.
move toward one another.
move away from one another.
all of the above
none of the above
21.) Transform fault boundaries are zones where tectonic plates
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
slide past each other.
move toward one another.
move away from one another.
all of the above
none of the above
22.) The true margin of a continent is
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
the shoreline.
the outer edge of the continental shelf.
at a depth of 100 fathoms.
the edge of the ocean floor.
the mid-ocean ridge.
23.) The island of Hawaii experiences volcanism because it is located
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
above an active mid-oceanic ridge.
above a hot spot.
above a subduction zone.
along a transform fault.
at a site where two plates are colliding.
24.) The Hawaiian Islands are located where the Pacific plate is
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
diving under the North American plate.
being thrust over the North American plate.
separating from the North American plate.
migrating over a hot spot.
diving under Japan.
25.) Approximately how old is the Earth currently thought to be?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
4 to 5 million years
6000 years
40 billion years
90 million years
none of the above
26.) When three-quarters of a radioactive isotope have decayed to become the stable daughter product, how
many half-lives have elapsed?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
one
two
three
four
none of the above
27.) What can we conclude from five undeformed, horizontal beds of sedimentary rock?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
The top layer is the oldest.
The bottom layer is the oldest.
The third layer from the bottom is older than the second layer from the bottom.
There is no way of knowing which layer is the oldest.
28.) Which geologic era represents the greatest expanse of time?
29.) Which geologic era is the least understood?
30.) Which geologic era are we living in now?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
the Cenozoic Era
the Mesozoic Era
the Paleozoic Era
the Precambrian Era
31.) Which geologic era preceded the geologic era we live in today?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
the Mesozoic Era
the “Age of Reptiles”
the “Age of Dinosaurs”
all of the above
none of the above
32.) An increase of one unit of magnitude on the Richter scale equates to about a _____ increase in energy.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
10-fold
30-fold
50-fold
100-fold
1000-fold
33.) An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale releases how many times more energy than
one with a magnitude of 5.5?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
5
10
15
30
45
34.) The position on the Earth’s surface directly above the earthquake source is called the
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
epicenter.
inertial point.
focus.
seismic site.
wave front.
35.) What is the mechanism by which rocks store and eventually release energy in the form of an
earthquake?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
elastic rebound
seismic rebound
fault displacement
stress fracture
deformation
36.) A succession of ocean waves set in motion by a submarine earthquake is called a(n)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
tidal bore.
tsunami.
seismic sea wave.
both (a) and (b)
both (b) and (c)
37.) Magma tends to rise toward the surface of the Earth principally because
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
water is an abundant constituent of magma.
silica is abundant in magma.
magma is a fluid.
rocks become less dense when they melt.
none of the above
38.) Geology and Earth Science are basically the same thing.
(a) true
(b) false
39.) The Earth is basically a closed system; although, in the strictest sense, it is an open system.
(a) true
(b) false
40.) All atoms with the same number of protons are given the same name.
(a) true
(b) false
41.) The Earth’s outer core is solid, and the inner core behaves as a liquid.
(a) true
(b) false
42.) The continental crust is much thicker than the oceanic crust.
(a) true
(b) false
43.) Most of our knowledge about the Earth’s interior comes from deep-sea drilling.
(a) true
(b) false
44.) Since oceanic crust is continually being produced at divergent plate boundaries, the size of the Earth is
increasing.
(a) true
(b) false
45.) The oldest rocks in the ocean are near the mid-ocean ridges.
(a) true
(b) false
46.) Measurements indicate that the west coast of Africa and the east coast of South America are getting
closer together.
(a) true
(b) false
47.) Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust.
(a) true
(b) false
48.) The rate of the sea floor spreading average about one meter (about three feet) per year.
(a) true
(b) false
49.) The positions of the Earth’s magnetic poles are close, but do not exactly coincide with, the positions of
the Earth’s geographic poles.
(a) true
(b) false
50.) The island of Hawaii experiences volcanism because it is located above the Mid-Pacific Ridge.
(a) true
(b) false
51.) The Himalaya Mountains are thought to have resulted from continental collision.
(a) true
(b) false
52.) According to the plate tectonics theory, the world’s larges mountain systems (like the Himalayas or the
Appalachians) were produced along divergent plate boundaries.
(a) true
(b) false
53.) The geologic time scale was originally constructed by scientists without the aid of numerical dates.
(a) true
(b) false
54.) We are now living in the Mesozoic Era.
(a) true
(b) false
55.) The Law of Superposition is used in relative dating.
(a) true
(b) false
56.) Carbon-14 may be used to date events as far back as one million years.
(a) true
(b) false
57.) After two half-lives, there is no longer any of the original radioactive material remaining.
(a) true
(b) false
58.) The Cenozoic Era is also called the “Age of Mammals.”
(a) true
(b) false
59.) Seismographs can only detect earthquakes within 500 miles of the instrument.
(a) true
(b) false
60.) The adjustments which follow a major earthquake often generation small earthquakes called
foreshocks.
(a) true
(b) false
61.) The epicenter of an earthquake is located on the surface of the Earth directly above the focus.
(a) true
(b) false
62.) Most major earthquakes are followed by smaller tremors, some of which can be destructive to already
weakened structures.
(a) true
(b) false
63.) S waves can only travel through a solid medium.
(a) true
(b) false
64.) P waves can travel through solids and liquids.
(a) true
(b) false
65.) It is now possible for seismologists to predict an earthquake to within a few weeks, or at most a few
months, of its occurrence.
(a) true
(b) false
66.) Faults that are not experiencing active creep are considered safe.
(a) true
(b) false
67.) There are several reliable methods of short-range earthquake predictions.
(a) true
(b) false
68.) The greater the percentage of silica in magma, the more viscous it is.
(a) true
(b) false
69.) The volcanic eruptions on the island of Hawaii may be described as relatively quiet.
(a) true
(b) false
70.) All present-day active volcanoes are associated with activity at plate boundaries.
(a) true
(b) false
71.) Basaltic lava is more viscous than andesitic lava.
(a) true
(b) false
72.) Volcanic islands found in the deep ocean basin are generally composed of basaltic rocks.
(a) true
(b) false